Fiancé from The Beginning

Disclaimer : KKM isn't mine.

Chapter 2

.-.-.

Steps echoed in the living room of Shibuya's house. Shori stared blankly at the floor, not even lifted his head when some guests were walking from the door. His conscience still registered what Grandpa Akira had just told the rest of the family (in fact it's him and Yuuri. Miko and Shoma were the exception, they already knew it).

Never, even in his wildest dream, did he ever think there was a family would trust their son to him.

In marriage, Shori reluctantly repeated. It was incredulous. Even it was decided before he had been born. Marriage should involve two people, and for eighteen years he had lived, he always visualized that he would spend the rest of his life with a woman. Hearing the unexpected arrangement crumbled his perfect dream and imagination of his future.

"Good evening, Mr. Shibuya," somebody addressed.

Shori froze. He recognized the voice. The deep, grumpy and not so friendly tone. Conquering his fears, Shori looked up.

He knew that indigo eyes. That gray hair tied in a low ponytail. He even knew that a number of wrinkles already increased the broad forehead. And that sturdy stature.

"It's been long time we haven't met, Shori."

Shori was totally petrified. This very Gwendal Voltaire couldn't be his. .given- husband-to-be?

"Shori," Grandpa reminded sternly, his orbs narrowed. "Isn't it impolite to ignore our visitor's greeting?"

Shori's back slumped. He had known the tall man. They were friends. The older man often helped him with his homework when he had been in elementary. They sort of got along well. Two years later Gwendal moved to another town, fully handling his late father's company.

Gwendal, despite of his scary look, was a person worth of admiration. He had been able to run his household (the steel eyed man had told Shori that his mother was hardly at home due to her voyage to find love) and company at the same time since young age. It's no wonder he had many wrinkles though , Shori guessed, he barely reached 30.

"Are you my . . .?" Shori hesitated to finish the question. He never admitted that he admired Gwendal. But the thought of the regal mannered man being his husband really brought cold shiver down his spine.

"No, " Gwendal calmly answered, moving to sit down on a chair. "Not me, but my brother is."

Somebody stepped aside, flashed the petrified young man a warm smile.

"It's not Gwendal, Shori," Conrad sincerely clarified. "It's me, of course," he stated in a matter of fact fashion. Wolfram Bielefeld, Yuuri's friend, and both visitors' brother, followed behind.

Shoma got up. He arranged extra seats for the guests. He smiled when Conrad chose to sit next to his oldest son.

"Tada!" Grandpa was excited. "These young men are Shinou's grandsons. Such fine men, aren't they?"

"You don't need to introduce them, Grandpa," Yuuri grinned, combing his black hair with fingers. "We've known them for a long time. Gwendal the Serious (and Scary mostly) "Gwendal glared his Intense Stare. Yuuri gulped. "Conrad the Kind, who will complete Shori in many ways, I believe , " Shori's eyes dangerously bulged, but Yuuri simply ignored them, "And Wolfram the. ."

"Don't call me Beautiful," Wolfram remarked darkly.

"My, my," Grandpa smiled joyfully. "your friendships really touch my heart," utterances heard. "Only you," he pointed the only sunny head in the room, "resemble him. Too bad Shinou isn't here."

""Did you by any means just mock me?" another figure appeared behind Miko. He smirked at Grandpa.

"Shinou!" Grandpa happily exclaimed. He crossed the room and hugged the old blond man.

Shinou was like the older version of Wolfram. They shared the same color of hair. People could probably mistake them. Only the eyes distinguished the young and old men.

Shinou might be older than Grandpa, but Shori found traces of handsome lines on his stunning visage. Many had fallen for him in his youth, Shori mildly wondered, and many perhaps still did.

"Is this the young man," Shinou averted his beautiful eyes, "that deserves my gift?"

Definitely Conrad was not a gift, Shori paled. His had once been fellow friend spelled disaster.

"I think no one in their right minds would give their grandson in a marriage to a stranger," Shori volunteered his opinion, which later he regretted. Shori cursed quietly. Having a thought and voicing it out loud without considering who you talked to were two different things. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude or offend you."

"Fyu fyu, you're absolutely wrong," Shinou's eyes radiated brightness, mischievous smile played on his face. "I was in the rightest of mind. I could see through Akira's heart, boy. I knew he was a good man. He wouldn't spell danger to anyone. I believed that if the grandfather had a good heart, his successors would just have as well. I could give my grandson wholeheartedly."

"But," Yuuri interrupted. "Why should he be Conrad, why not Gwendal?"

Shinou smiled to the young boy. "I thought Gwendal was much older. At that time Conrad was just born, and Shori was about to be too. I came to a thought that they would be a nice pair."

Shori groaned inwardly. This Shinou was as carefree as Grandpa. The magnificent idea Grandpa had told him was a complete calamity to the raven man. What had he done in the past or previous life that in present he was doomed?

"I agree to the arrangement because I think your brother is not a wimp just like you," Wolfram huffed haughtily.

"I'm not a wimp!" Yuuri refuted heatedly.

"What do you call a person who slips in the same spot all the time? Who always gets himself soaked carelessly?"

Yuuri glared at the young blond, while the latter crossed his hands across his chest triumphantly.

"He's not as handsome as Conrad, but at least he is smart enough for both of them," Wolfram continued, emerald orbs looking at Yuuri's brother calculatingly.

Shori didn't know precisely it's a compliment or an insult, or perhaps those opposite facts mixed together in harmony. Oh, nice!

"Were you saying that I'm not smart, Wolfram?" Conrad furrowed. He intently stared at his brother.

"That's not exactly like that," Wolfram glared fiercely. No matter how dangerous his eyes glinted, nor how quick his temper was, he still looked beautiful.

"Well, well," Shinou gazed at Shori, "I never imagined that my grandson in law to be would be this quiet."

Who in the hell in the world wouldn't be if only minutes before his grandfather had told him that he would be given a -older people called it- soul mate that would undergo the time of their lives together.

"Don't wear an impression as if you're a damsel in distress, young man!" Gwendal said. His face remained impassive. " I don't expect my brother in law would be that sour."

Shori would have gladly snapped at the big man. Finally he only snorted. Kinda ironic, because as long as Shori knew, it's Gwendal who was always in sour mode.

"Our Shori is shy, Mr. Shinou," was what Miko said. "He's always like that. But don't worry about it," the brown woman swayed his hand elegantly. "I'm sure Conrad will help him overcome his major weakness."

What the said man wanted so badly now was a black hole swallowed him completely and sent him to another galaxy or even universe. Shori couldn't be more embarrassed. He sank slower.

"Aren't you glad, Shori," Miko asked his son, " that you've already known your boyfriend for a long time?"

Shori returned back to Milky Way by a great force. He blinked mortifiedly at his mother.

"Wha..Boyfriend?" he stuttered indignantly. "No way!" he found his voice back. He didn't realize he had yelled, but the older people in the now crowded room didn't mind it.

"Way!" Conrad calmly responded. "We're destined to be together."

"Don't talk about destiny," Shori retorted heatedly. He turned to the good looking brunette, sending a glare as powerful as Gwendal's, which miraculously had no effect to Conrad. "You and I? It's all ridiculous!"

"Eh?" Shinou's tone was all but curious. "I don't think you both are ridiculous. My lovely grandson is definitely right. You two are destined for each other."

Shori found it was all silly. The arrangement was silly, and the makers, both his grandfather and this dashing old blond were also silly.

"My, my," Grandpa protested, shaking his gray head wistfully. He looked perplexed. "You should be grateful, Grandson. We families give our blessings." He viewed the rest of the occupants, who gave their agreement by nodding and smiling. "You don't have to undergo pains as in Romeo and Juliet, dear. Your love life won't be that tragic."

Shori rolled his onyx eyes. Why should Grandpa mention the characters? He didn't even think his situation was pertinent to the famous work. And why should his mother squeal to the statement? Her romantic side must reach the highest peak right now. It's not amusing at all.

"Shori, dear," Shinou imitated Grandpa's tone, his expression was heavily serious. "I made my oath. And I am responsible to fulfill the promise."

"I do gladly take it, Grandpa," Conrad's smile was more than enough to feed Miko's imagination.

"You should be more willing just like your fiancé is, Shori," Miko encouraged his bespectacled son.

"Since when this Conrad is my fiancé?" Shori's eyes bulged. Had he tried harder, they would have been out of the sockets.

"Where have you been, Grandson?" Shinou raised a beautifully arched eyebrow. The three brothers had told him how perceptive Shoma's oldest son was, but now he certainly doubted the terrible looking of Conrad's fellow's intelligence. "Since I trusted my second grandson to you, your fates have been sealed."

"But.." Shori stuttered, paler hearing Shinou calling him 'Grandson'. He turned to his father, who quietly watched the bickering in amusement. "You don't agree with it, do you, Dad?"

"Son," Shoma spoke, his facial expression somewhat subsided Shori's despondence. Flicker of hopes sparkled in Shori's eyes seeing his father's state. Surely he would help his son getting out of the trouble. "I don't mind it as long as it gives you happiness."

Shori gawked. Shoma's unexpected reply was brutally drowning his hopes to the deepest sea of despair.

"You're kidding me, Dad,"Shori couldn't believe his father's response.

"I think Shori needs some time alone," Conrad got up, pulled up his bewildered fellow and led him to his room. "He's still overwhelmed."

Shinou winked an eye. "Such a good fiancé you are! Such a gentleman, Conrad. As versatile as your grandfather is."

"What a great fiancé!" Grandpa was exhilarated. He and Shinou exchanged looks that Shori would never want to tell. Those perverted old men!

Conrad led the way, dragging Shori's arm gently. Shori was willing to do so, no strength left in him to even protest or pull away from the firm hand.

"Are you alright, Shori?" Conrad confirmed once they were in the raven's room.

Shori sat down on the edge of his bed, head bent down. "Do I look fine?" Shori weakly barked, his harsh tone gave less effect. "Aren't you as surprised as I am?"

"Nope," Conrad composed himself proudly. "Not at all."

Shori's head lifted. "Why?"

"That's simple," Conrad flicked his fingers. A sharp sound heard through the flip of the long fingers. "I've already known it for a long time."

"Was I the only one involved who didn't have the knowledge?" Shori's eyes traced the window pane.

"It seemed so," Conrad simply justified. He sat on Shori's desk."Grandpa told me about his promise to your grandfather when I was a little kid."

"How did you react?"

"I just accepted it," Conrad's answer sent a shock to Shori. "I don't fundamentally see anything wrong with it."

"Tell me!" Shori gaped coldly.

"Why don't you believe what I said?" the brunette got serious. The air around him slowly but surely filled with tension. "Why do you think I always remain by your side, come what may!"

Shori gasped. Sometimes he thought it was a coincidence finding the older man wherever he laid his eyes . Conrad was not the kind of person who got along with books, and study rooms in the library, but the obsidian eyed man often found him there.

Black eyes stared down at the floor, finding it a good spot to avoid the honey gaze that bore through his head. Every time younger Shori attended a championship, Conrad would be there. "As the supporter," the latter had often said cheerfully. If he won, Conrad would be the first person who congratulated him. Once he lose, Conrad would console and tell him that it was a tough competition, and that he should be proud to have even been there and lost gracefully. And Conrad always gave him a token before the competition begun. "As a good luck charm," Conrad said. The token was . . .

"You never look me in the eye."

Conrad's words pulled Shori back from his wandering reverie. Hurt was evident in brunette's tone.

"Because every time I look at you, I feel guilty," was the quick reply. Shori was shocked. It was too late to take the words back.

Conrad was genuinely confused. "Guilty of what?" he inquired. Confusion and surprise mingled on his tan face.

Shori sighed heavily. He reminded himself to keep his mouth as careful as possible next time. He averted his eyes up, until they spotted Conrad's eyebrow. "That scar!"

Conrad's looked back in understanding.

When they had been in elementary, Shori was drown in a huge river near the school.

He intended to search for his wallet that incidentally thrown down once he had been walking on the bridge above the river before. Quickly he ran down, then carelessly jumped into the harsh current. He hadn't expected that it was too deep for a little kid like him.

He couldn't swim. Shori miserably swallowed tons of water. He shouted for help, but it seemed it was unheard.

When he finally gave up, a sound of splashed water distracted his attention. He saw a brown little head poked ups and downs approaching him. He felt arms dragging him closer to the bank of the river. A second later, he recognized whose head it was.

Unfortunately, a sharp pointed stone scratched Conrad's right eyebrow in the process. It cut the part of his face.

Not only did he get a scar. Conrad broke his left arm. Pulling another kid to life was a great attempt. His small arm stubbornly dragged heavy burden of a numb body.

Shori was safe, but his savior endured more pains. Once they were on the bank, Conrad was collapsed to the ground. Shori gasped in horror noticing trails of blood running down the other boy's face. The source was the right eyebrow. The tan kid also rubbed his limply arm.

No body blamed Shori, but he always had a guilty trip towards Conrad. He had thanked Conrad. Pat on the back and assurance that the brunette was alright were the reply. Conrad smiled and said he was more than thankful that Shori was safe.

That had happened before Conrad intruded Yuuri and Shori's bonds, before Shori distasted him.

Conrad gently rubbed the scar. "I don't particularly mind having this. It's the Gratitude Mark I got from rescuing my fiancé. Reassuring that you were alive, safe and sound was , and will always be, my top priority."

Blush crept up Shori's face, to the root of his black hair. He cursed quietly. How he could be shy at the romantic statement was beyond his smart brain.

Conrad extended his hand, an object was gracefully lain in his palm. Shori blinked. He knew that small creation : he always got it as the good luck token.

Unconsciously Shori took the origami, and observed the carefully folded crane.

This was Conrad habit, giving him a crane before a competition or any sort began. He didn't get what Conrad tried to convey through the folded paper, but he never rejected it.

Looked up, Shori was caught off guard finding Conrad smiled down at him. "Welcome to the new life. . .Fiancé."

.-.-.

TBC

A/n : I tend to think that Conrad is sweet, and Shori is cold. Opposite personalities often complete each other. That's why I truly cling to the idea. Once again, please take the story as it is.